Butt pan and adjustment for corn binders



Dec. 1, A KOWALSKY BUTT PAN AND ADJUSTMENT FOR CORN BINDERS Filed Oct. 28, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 1, 1936 KOWALSKY 2,062,582

BUTT PAN AND ADJUSTMENT FOR CORN BINDERS Filed Oct. 28, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 1, 1936 UNITED STATES.

BUTT PAN AND ADJUSTMENT FOR CORN BINDERS Andrew Kowalsky, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to International Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey ApplicationOctober 28, 1935, Serial No. 47,141

17 Claims. (01. 5615) 4 The invention relates to corn binders, and the like machines. More particularly the invention provides a novel butt pan mounting, means for adjusting the level thereof, and means for maintaining said butt pan in its adjusted position in any tilted position of the binder frame.

In present corn binders a butt pan is provided, over which cut stalks pass in erect, butt-end-down position while being tied into a bundle. It is important in forming good stalk bundles that the same be tied substantially at their middles and for that reason the butt pan is adjustably mounted'to set the same in accordance with the length of the stalks being handled. During operation of the binder, the frame must at times be tilted up or down, so that the crop gathering means will properly function. This tilting of the binder frame objectionably changes the position of the butt pan relative to the frame, causing variation in the tying of the bundles.

The main object of the invention accordingly is to provide a butt pan that will, when once adjustably set, always maintain the same relationship to the binder frame when the latter is tilted.

Another object is to provide a novel mounting for the butt pan.

Still another object is to provide an improved adjusting means for the butt pan including means to prevent change in the position of the pan, once 39 it is set, when the frame is tilted.

It is also an important object to provide these novel adjustment butt pan controls in a tractor drawn corn binder with the controls operable by the operator from his seat on the tractor.

7-- A further object is to provide a floating lever control on the draw frame operable from the tractor for adjusting the butt pan, the lock for the lever linkage being on the binder frame.

Other important objects of the invention will 49 be apparent to those skilled in the art as the disclosure is more fully made.

The improved corn binder embodies a wheel carried main frame tiltable about the wheel axis to raise and lower the gather board units with respect to the ground, there being a butt pan carried adjustably on the frame to receive stalks in erect position from the gathering means. A binder is located adjacent the butt pan to tie the stalks in a bundle and to discharge them as such from the machine. Connected with the binder frame is a draw frame coupled to the draw-bar of a tractor. The binder frame carries a toothed quad-. rant with which is associated an arm adapted to be locked relative to the quadrant by means controlled from a novel lever mechanism mounted at the front end of the draw frame where it can be manipulated by the operator from his seat on the tractor. The butt pan is hingedlymounted on the binder frame and, by means of a crank, linked to said arm, may be set in the desired postion of adjustment relative to the binder main frame. The draw frame carries a tilt lever accessible from the tractor for tilting the binder frame; and the connections between the arm and butt pan crank prevent movement of the butt pan rela- 1 tive to the binder frame when the latter is tilted.

So-much will suffice in presenting a brief understanding of the improved structure, a practicable formof which is illustratedin the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein: 15,

Figure 1 is a general, side elevational view of m the tractor and corn binder;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail, elevational ,view of the lever control for adjusting the butt pan, viewed from the opposite side shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail, sectional view of the same lever taken along the line 3-'3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction, of the arrows;

Figure 4 is an'enlarged, side elevational view of the lever lock for the said butt pan adjusting lever;

Figure 5 is an end elevational, detail view,. partly in section, of said lever lock taken along the line 55 of Figure'4, looking in' the direction of the arrow; and,

Figure 6 is a general, side elevational view of the corn binder per se, showing on an enlarged scale, the novel butt pan mounting.

The tractor shown embodies a frame 10, carried at its rear on traction wheels II. A seatis 35 provided at l2 and a draw-bar, at l3. Extending rearwardly from the tractor is the power take-off shaft I4.

The corn binder in most respects is of standard form and embodies a main frame l5 mounted 40 for tilting up or down movement about the axis of a pair of carrying wheels IS. The main frame has pivotally connected to it by a horizontal pivot pin I l, a forwardlyextending draw frame 3 connected by a vertical pivot pin l9 to the tractor draw-bar l3. f

Rigidly mounted on the frame I5 is the crop gathering unit comprisinggathering boards .20 connected to the front end of the'frame I5 and inclined upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, the rear end being appropriately supported in the usual way. 'A shaft 2| is mounted in a standard 22, said shaft carrying sprockets for driving the usual gathering chains .23. A standard 24 mounts ashaft in the usual way to drive the bundle dis- 55 charge arms 25 disposed adjacent the rear end of the machine where the binding mechanism, not shown, is also located.

The operative parts include a shaft 26 journaled in a bracket 21 mounted on the frame l5, said shaft carrying a bevel gear 28 driven from a bevel pinion 29, driven, in turn, from a shaft 38 located in a housing 3| supported on the frame. Said shaft 38 is driven from a line shaft 32 supported in a bracket 33 mounted on the draw frame IS. The shaft 32, in turn, is driven from an extensible shaft 33', universally connected to the power take-off shaft l4 on the tractor. The shaft 26 is geared in the usual manner, not shown, to rotate the shaft 2| to drive the chains 23. By means of a chain drive 34 a connection is provided to turn the shaft in the standard 24, which operates the discharge arms 25.

It will be understood that these corn binders embody two spaced gather board units 28 providing between them a stalk passage, so that, when the stalks have been severed and are moved rearwardly in erect position by the chains 23, they move onto an inclined guide pan 35 mounted appropriately on the frame l5. The lower chains 23 thus raise the stalks and elevate them in erect position, butt-ends-down, onto a butt pan 36 hinged at 3'! to the member 35.

The rear end of the butt pan 36, which supports the bundle of stalks while they are tied, is supported on a crank 38 hinged in a bearing 39, said crank carrying a rigid upstanding arm 48, which can be moved by a link 4| to raise and lower the pan 36 about its hinge 31 to adjust its position, through the medium of the crank 38.

The forward end of the link 4| is pivotally connected to the upper end of an upright arm 42, which is pivoted at its lower end, as at 43, to a part of the frame I5. The arm carries a bracket 44, in which is rockably mounted a rod 45 having a bent or cranked end passed transversely through a vertically elongated slot 41 formed in the upper end of said arm 42. This bent end 46 constitutes a lock member that cooperates with the notches in a notched quadrant 48 mounted rigidly on the frame l5. A spring 49 connected between the lock member 46 and frame l5 serves to keep the said member 46 normally locked in one of the quadrant notches, thus locking the arm 42 against swinging movement. Thus, the link 4|, arm 48 and crank 38 remain locked to hold the butt pan 36 in an adjustably set position.

The rod 45 is part of a link 58, which extends longitudinally forwardly, where its front end includes a rod 5| having a cranked end 52 passed laterally through the lower end of a bell crank lever 53. Said bell crank lever is fulcrumed at 54 in a bracket 55 mounted on a standard 56 carried by the draw frame l8. This lever 53 has a depending arm below its fulcrum, as shown, and a long forwardly extending arm terminating in a position proximate to the tractor seat l2. The fulcrum pin 54 also pivotally mounts a small bell crank bracket 51, which at its lower corner carries a depending link 58 that connects to the crank 52, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The upper corner of the bracket 51 has connected toit an operating link 59 movable by a pivoted detent handle 68 on the front end of the long arm of the lever 53.

The draw frame N3 of the binder carries a large notched quadrant 6|, with which is associated a locking detent 62 operable by a control linkage 63 mounted on a long, forwardly extending lever 64 fulcrumed at 65 on the binder frame l5. By

aoeas manipulation of the control 63, the detent lock 62 is freed to release the lever 64 by which the operator on his seat |2 on the tractor can let down or raise the binder frame at the pivot I1 to adjust the crop gathering means in the well known manner.

The butt pan 36 can be leveled to the desired position relative to the main frame l5 by releasing the handle 68 on lever 53 to manipulate the link 59 to rock the bracket 51. This pulls up on the rod 58 to raise the crank 52, thereby rocking the member 58 on its axis to rock the crank 46 upwardly against the pull of the spring 49, thus freeing the arm 42 from its locked position relative to the notched quadrant 48. With the arm 42 thus freed for movement about its fulcrum 43, the operator can swing the lever 53 to move the link 58 endwise to swing the arm 42 fore or aft. As a consequence, the link 4| moves the same way to raise or lower the crank 38 and with it the butt pan 36 about its hinge 31. Thus the butt pan may be initially adjusted to the desired position relative to the frame l5. Release of the handle 68 immediately makes the spring 49 effective to restore the crank 46 into locking engagement with the rack 48 to retain the pan 36 in its adjusted position.

Keeping in mind that the quadrant 48 and arm 42 are normally locked and rigid on the frame l5, it follows that no relative motion between link 4| and crank 38 can take place to alter the adjustment of the pan 36 when the tilt lever 64 is manipulated to raise or lower the binder main frame. Of course, as the frame l5 moves down or up, the arm 42 moves forwardly or rearwardly slightly with the frame. Such movement, of course, pushes or pulls on the rod 58, but this makes no diiference, as the bell crank lever 53 is on a free fulcrum and, as a result,

' the lever 53 merely swings slightly, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1. Therefore, during tilting of the binder frame |5 the butt pan remains locked in a fixed position relative to the frame |5, because the lock is on the binder frame and the control levers are not affected in any way. This is a really desirable feature and insures proper maintenance of the butt pan to result in binding a bunch of stalks on the butt pan in the most eflicient manner.

From the above detailed description it will now be apparent that an improved corn binder has been provided in accordance with the objects of the invention heretofore recited.

It is the intention to cover herein all such changes and modifications of the example shown and described which do not materially constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A corn binder having a wheel carried main frame pivotally connected to a draw frame, crop gathering means on the main frame for moving out stalks in erect position, an inclined member on the main frame to receive and support the stalks butt-end-down, a butt pan hinged to the member and disposed to receive the stalks from the member, means for adjustably setting the butt pan relative to the main frame, means for tilting the main frame relative to the draw frame, and means to maintain the butt pan in its adjusted position relative to the main frame when the latter is tilted.

2. A corn binder having a wheel carried main frame pivotally connected to a draw frame, crop gathering means on the main frame for moving cut stalks in erect position, an inclined member on the main frame to receive and support the stalks butt-end-down, a butt pan hinged to the member and disposed to receive the stalks from the member, means for adjustably setting .the butt pan relative to the main frame, means for tilting the main frame relative to the draw frame, and locking means on the main frame to releasably lock the butt pan in its adjusted position relative to the main frame when the latter is tilted.

3. A com binder having a wheel carried main frame pivotally connected to a draw frame, crop gathering means on the main frame for moving out stalks in erect position, an inclined member on the main frame to receive and support the stalks butt-end-down, a butt pan adjustably associated with the member and disposed to receive the stalks from the member, a lever on the draw frame including connections for adjustably setting the butt pan relative to the main frame, means for tilting the main frame relative to the draw frame, and lock means on the main frame to maintain the butt pan in a fixed adjusted position relative to the main frame when the latter is tilted.

4. A corn binder having a wheel carried main frame pivotally connected to a draw frame, crop gathering means on the mainframe for moving cut stalks in erect position, an adjustable buttpan on the main frame to receive and support the stalks, a lever on the draw frame including connections for adjustably setting the butt pan relative to the main frame, means for tilting the main frame relative to the draw frame, and lock means on the main frame to prevent the butt .pan from altering its position of adjustment relative to the main frame when the latter is tilted.

5. A corn binder having a wheel carried main frame pivotally connected to a draw frame, crop gathering means on the main frame for moving cut stalks in erect position, an adjustable butt pan on the main frame to receive the stalks from the gathering means, means for adjustably setting the butt pan relative to the main frame, means for tilting the main frame relative to the draw frame, and means to releasably lock the butt pan to prevent relative movement thereof with respect to the main frame when the latter is tilted.

6. A corn binder having a wheel carried main frame pivotally connected to a draw frame, crop gathering means on the main frame for moving out stalks in erect position, an adjustable butt pan disposed on the main frame to receive the stalks from the gathering means, a lever on the draw frame including connections for adjustably setting the butt pan relative to the main frame, means for tilting the main frame relative to the draw frame, and means to releasably lock the butt pan to prevent relative movement thereof with respect to the main frame when the latter is tilted.

7. A corn binder having a wheel carried main frame hingedly connected to a relatively stationary draw frame, crop gathering means on the main frame for gathering and moving out stalks in erect position, an adjustably mounted butt pan on the main frame to receive and support the stalks butt-ends-down, a substantially upright arm swingably mounted on the main frame including a connection to move the butt pan, a toothed quadrant mounted on the main frame, said arm carrying an operating link therefor, a lever mounted on the draw frame for operating said link, means operatively associated with the link to lock the arm against movement relative to the quadrant thereby locking the butt pan in a set position, and means operatively associated with the lever for releasing the lock means to enable the lever and operating link to move the arm for changing the position of adjustment of the butt pan.

8. A corn binder having a wheel carried main frame hingedly connected to a relatively stationary draw frame, crop gathering means on the main frame for gathering and moving cut stalks in erect position, an adjustably mounted butt pan on the main frame to receive and support the stalks butt-ends-down, an arm swingably mounted on the main frame including a connection to move the butt pan, a toothed quadrant mounted on the main frame adjacent said arm, said arm connected to an operating link therefor, a lever mounted on the draw frame for operating said link, means included in the link and passed through a slot formed in the arm to lock the arm against movement relative to the quadrant to lock the butt pan in a set position, and means operatively associated with the lever for releasing the lock means to enable the lever and operating link to move the arm for changing the position of adjustment of the butt pan.

9. A corn binder having a wheel carried main frame hingedly connected to a relativelystationary draw frame, crop gathering means on the main frame for moving out stalks in erect position, an adjustably mounted butt pan on the main frame to receive and support the stalks buttends-down, an upright arm pivotally mounted on the main frame including a connection to move the butt pan, a toothed quadrant mounted on the main frame, said arm carrying an operating link therefor, said link being mounted on said arm for both rocking and endwise shifting movement, a lever mounted on the draw frame for shifting said link, means operatively associated with the link to lock the arm against movement relative to the quadrant thereby locking the butt pan in a set position, and means operatively associated with the lever for rocking the link to release the lock means to enable the lever and'operating link to move the arm for changing the position of adjustment of the butt pan.

10. A com binder having a wheel carried main frame hingedly connected to a relatively stationary draw frame, crop gathering means on the main frame for moving out stalks in erect position, an adjustably mounted butt pan on the main frame to receive and support the stalks butt-endsdown, an arm swingably mounted on'the main frame including a connection to move the butt pan, a toothed quadrant mounted on the main frame, said arm carrying an operating link therefor, a lever mounted on the draw frame for operating said link, means operatively associated with the link to lock the arm against move ment relative to the quadrant thereby locking the butt pan in a set position, means operatively associated with the lever for releasing the lock means to enable the lever and operating link to move the arm for changing the position of adjustment of the butt pan, a lever on the draw frame including a connection for tilting the binder frame relative to the draw frame, the arm remaining locked during tilting of the main frame to maintain the butt pan in its set position of adjustment relative to the main frame.

11. A corn binder having a wheel carried main frame hingedly connected to a relatively stationary draw frame, crop gathering means on the main frame for moving cut stalks in erect position, an adjustably mounted butt pan on the main frame to receive and support the stalks butt-endsdown, an arm swingably mounted on the main frame including a connection to move the butt pan, a toothed quadrant mounted on the main frame, said arm carrying an operating link therefor including a portion for engaging the toothed quadrant, a lever mounted on the draw frame for operating said link, a spring connected to said portion for moving the portion into locking engagement with the quadrant to lock the arm against movement relative to the quadrant thereby locking the butt pan in a set position, and means operatively associated with the lever for releasing the said portion against the pull of the spring to enable the lever and operating link to be freed for moving the arm to change the position of adjustment of the butt pan.

12. The combination with a tractor having a seat and a draw-bar, of a corn binder embodying a wheel carried main frame tiltably connected to a relatively stationary draw frame, means hingedly connecting the draw frame to the draw-bar, crop gathering means on the main frame for moving cut stalks in erect position, a butt pan on the main frame to receive the stalks from the gathering means butt-ends-down, means adjustably mounting the butt pan, a swingable arm mounted on the main frame including a connection with the means that mounts the butt pan, a toothed quadrant on the main frame adjacent the arm, a link connected to the arm including means to lock the arm to the quadrant to hold the butt pan in an adjusted position, a lever operable from the seat on the tractor and mounted on the draw frame to actuate the link, said lever including means to release the look for enabling the arm to be freed for changing the position of adjustment of the butt pan.

13. The combination with a tractor having a seat and a draw-bar, of a corn binder embodying a wheel carried main frame tiltably connected to a relatively stationary draw frame, means hingedly connecting the draw frame to the draw-bar, crop gathering means on the main frame for moving out stalks in erect position, a butt pan on the main frame to receive the stalks from the gathering means butt-ends-down, a crank for adjustably mounting the butt pan, 2. pivoted arm mounted on the main frame including a connection with the crank, a toothed quadrant on the main frame adjacent the arm, a link carried by the arm for rocking and shifting movement, said link including a bent end to lock with the quadrant to hold the arm and butt pan in a fixed position relative to the main frame, a lever operable from the seat on the tractor and mounted on the draw frame to shift the link, said lever including means to rock the link and release the bent end look from the quadrant to free the arm for changing the position of adjustment of the butt pan.

14. The combination with a tractor having a seat and a draw-bar, of a harvester embodying a wheel carried main frame tiltably connected to a relatively stationary draw frame, means hingedly connecting the draw frame to the draw-bar, an adjustably mounted crop receiving element mounted on the main frame, a pivoted arm mounted on the main frame including a connection with the element, a toothed quadrant on the main frame adjacent the arm, a link carried by the arm for rocking and endwise shifting movement, said link including means to lock the arm to the quadrant to hold the element in an adjusted position, a lever operable from the seat on the tractor and mounted on the draw frame to shift the link, said lever including means simultaneously to release the look by rocking the, link for enabling the arm to be freed for changing the position of adjustment of the element.

15. The combination with a tractor having a seat and a draw-bar, of a harvester connected to the draw-bar, an adjustable crop receiving element on the harvester, means to lock said element in an adjusted position, a lever included in the harvester operable from the tractor seat, an axially rockable and endwise shiftable link connected between the lever and element locking means, and means operable with the lever to rock the link and release the locking means as the lever is moved to shift the link for altering the position of adjustment of the element.

16. The combination with a tractor having a seat and a draw-bar, of a harvester embodying a wheel carried main frame tiltably connected to a relatively stationary draw frame, means hingedly connecting the draw frame to the draw-bar, a crop receiving element adjustably mounted on the main frame, a pivoted arm mounted on the main frame including a connection for altering the position of adjustment of the element, a toothed quadrant on the main frame adjacent the arm, a link carried by the arm including means to lock the arm to the quadrant to hold the element in an adjusted position, a lever operable from the seat on the tractor and mounted on the draw frame to actuate the link, said lever including means to release the lock for enabling the arm to be freed for changing the position of adjustment of the element.

1'7. The combination with a tractor having a seat and a draw-bar, of a harvester embodying a Wheel carried main frame tiltably connected to a relatively stationary draw frame, means hingedly connecting the draw frame to the draw-bar, a crop receiving element adjustably mounted on the main frame, a swingable arm mounted on the main frame including a connection for altering the position of adjustment of the element, a toothed quadrant on the main frame adjacent the arm, a link carried by the arm for endwise shifting and rocking movement, said link including means to lock the arm to the quadrant to hold the element in an adjusted position, a lever operable from the seat on the tractor and mounted on the draw frame to shift the link and swing the arm, said lever including means for rocking the link for first releasing the lock for enabling the armto be freed for changing the position of adjustment of the element.

ANDREW KOWALSKY. 

